Glastonbury Festival founder Michael Eavis is to be honoured by the music industry for his outstanding contribution.

The 78-year-old farmer, who first hosted an event on his land in Somerset in 1970, will be recognised for his achievements in staging live music and in raising money for charity.

He will be given the Music Industry Trusts (MITS) Award at a special fundraising dinner to be staged later this year.

Eavis said: "When I set out on this crazy hippy trip 44 years ago, little did I know how this rollercoaster would run. But now I have to pinch myself every morning when I wake up to the excitement of another day - heading up a team of the most creative artists anywhere in the world."

This summer's Glastonbury will be headlined by the likes of Arcade Fire, Metallica and Kasabian next month.

David Munns, who chairs the MITS Award committee, said of Eavis: " We honour him as the creator of the world renowned Glastonbury Festival, the largest greenfield festival in the world, attended by over 175,000 each year and raising millions of pounds for charities.

"Through his tireless dedication, Glastonbury has become an important landmark in the cultural life of this country, with its influence spreading well beyond these shores."

The MITS dinner - which is supported by Spotify and PPL - will take place on November 3, raising money for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins as well as the Brit Trust.